Theft deterrent system

Abstract

A system for deterring theft of a vehicle having a plurality of opening and closing parts (doors, hood, trunk lid, etc.) divided into a first group of opening and closing parts (singular or plural) and a second group of opening and closing parts (singular or plural) includes an alarm device for outputting an alarm exteriorly of the vehicle, an open/closed state sensor for sensing individual open and closed states of each of the plurality of opening and closing parts and outputting signals indicative of the states sensed, a device for sensing that an ignition signal for starting the vehicle engine has been generated, a first setting device for setting the vehicle to a first armed phase in response to driver operation, a first actuating device for actuating the alarm in the first armed phase in response to at least one signal from among the ignition signal and signals indicative of the open states of the plurality of opening and closing parts, a second setting device for setting the vehicle from the first armed phase to a second armed phase in response to driver operation, and a second actuating device for actuating the alarm in the second armed phase in response to at least one signal from among the ignition signal and signals indicative of the open states of the plurality of opening and closing parts belonging solely to the second group. Thus, theft is deterred not only in the first armed phase but also in the second armed phase.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A theft deterent system, comprising: a vehicle having a plurality of opening and closing parts attached thereto, said plurality of opening and closing parts being able to be locked and unlocked, and being divided into a first group of one or more opening and closing parts and a second group of one or more opening and closing parts;   alarm means for outputting an alarm exteriorly of the vehicle;   open/closed state sensing means for sensing individual open and closed states of each of said plurality of opening and closed states of each of said opening and closing parts and outputting signals indicative of the states sensed,   said open/closed state sensing means including detecting means coupled to some of said opening and closing parts for detecting that at least one of the opening and closing parts in the second group has been unlocked from the exterior of the vehicle by the driver;   means for sensing that an ignition signal for starting an engine of the vehicle has been generated;   first setting means for setting the vehicle to a first armed phase in response to an operation performed by the driver;   first actuating means for actuating said alarm means in response to at least one signal sensed during the first armed phase, from among a group of possible signals including (a) said ignition signal and (b) the signals indicative of the open states of said plurality of opening and closing parts;   second setting means for setting the vehicle from the first armed phase to a second armed phase in response to an unlocking operation detected by said detecting means during the first armed phase; and   second actuating means for actuating said alarm means in the second armed phase in response to at least one signal, sensed during the second armed phase, from among said group of possible signals, including (a) said ignition signal and (b) the signals indicative of the open states of said opening and closing parts belonging solely to the first group.   
     
     
       2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising said open/closed state sensing means including means for detecting a locking and closing operation of the unlocked and opened parts in the second group during the second armed phase, and   means for reinstating the vehicle from the second armed phase to the first armed phase in response to the detection of the detecting means.   
     
     
       3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said opening and closing parts in the first group are door bodies being able to be opened and unlocked or closed and locked from the exterior or interior of the vehicle by the driver, and said opening and closing parts in the second group are door bodies being able to be opened and unlocked or closed and locked from the exterior by the driver. 
     
     
       4. The system according to claim 3, wherein one opening and closing part in the first group is a side door of the vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The system according to claim 6, wherein said side door is a door to a driver's seat. 
     
     
       6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said side door is a front door on the passenger's seat side. 
     
     
       7. The system according to claim 3, wherein one opening and closing part in the second group is a back door or rear door hatch of the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said back door leads to a driver's seat of the vehicle. 
     
     
       9. The system according to claim 3, wherein one opening and closing part in the second group is an engine hood of the vehicle. 
     
     
       10. The system according to claim 3, wherein one opening and closing part in the second group is a trunk lid of a vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The system according to claim 1, wherein each opening and closing part of the first group has lock operating means for locking, by the operation thereof by the driver, said each opening and closing part; and wherein said first setting means includes:   means responsive to said detecting means for outputting a key signal upon a detection, with regard to each of said plurality of opening and closing parts, that a key for opening said opening and closing parts has been used;   means for outputting a lock operation signal upon detecting operation of said lock operating means; and logic means for detecting simultaneously, that a key signal regarding any one of the opening and closing parts in the first group is false, that the lock operation signal is true and that a signal indicating the open state of an opening and closing part for which the key signal represents non-use of the key is true.   
     
     
       12. The system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided means responsive to said detecting means for outputting a key signal upon a detection that a key has been used to open and unlock at least one of the opening and closing parts in the second group and said second setting means includes means connected to said outputting means for changing the phase of the vehicle from the first armed phase to the second armed phase when said signal is true.   
     
     
       13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: engine starter means for electrically starting rotation of the engine;   means for supplying said starter means with electric power; and   electric power cut-off means for cutting off the supply of electric power;   said first and second actuating means including means for activating said power cut-off means.   
     
     
       14. The system according to claim 1, further comprising timer means for monitoring elapsed time and outputting a time-up signal when a set period of time has elapsed; said first and second actuating means including means for setting said timer means, at the same time said alarm means is actuated, to a time period over which said alarm means is to continue issuing an alarm.   
     
     
       15. The system according to claim 1, wherein there is provided: engine starting means for electrically starting rotation of the engine;   means for supplying said starter means with electric power;   electric power cut-off means for cutting off the supply of electric power;   and wherein there is provided means responsive to said detecting means for outputting a key signal upon a detection, with regard to each opening and closing parts, that a key has been used to open said opening and closing part;   said first and second actuating means including means for activating said electric power cut-off means upon detecting that the key signal regarding the opening and closing part in the first group is true.   
     
     
       16. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: sensor means provided in a passenger compartment of the vehicle for outputting a moving object signal upon sensing movement of an object within the passenger compartment;   said first actuating means actuating said alarm means in the first armed phase in response to at least one signal from among the said group of possible signals including (a) said ignition signal and (b) the signals indicative of the open states of said opening and closing parts and (c) said moving object signal;   said second actuating means actuating said alarm means in the second armed phase in response to at least one signal from among said group of possible signals including (a) said ignition signal and (b) the signals indicative of the open states of said opening and closing parts solely in the first group and (c) said moving object signal.   
     
     
       17. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: sensor means provided in a passenger compartment of the vehicle for outputting a moving-object signal upon sensing movement of an object within the passenger compartment; and   means for rendering said second actuating means non-responsive to the moving-object signal in the second armed phase.   
     
     
       18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said sensor means includes ultrasonic oscillating means and receiving means for receiving ultrasonic waves from said ultrasonic oscillating means. 
     
     
       19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second actuating means actuates said alarm means in the second armed phase in response to further signals indicative that there has been an opening and closing of one of said parts in the second group other than the opening and closing part which had been opened at the time of the first to second armed phase transition.